THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) successfully launched the first ever International Smart City Exposition and Networking Engagement 2023 (iSCENE 2023) in Cauayan City, Isabela on March 23 at the Isabela Convention Center.
iSCENE was organized in the Philippines with the aim to serve as a platform to bring local chief executives, government leaders, industries and business players together for knowledge-sharing, connection and network-building for the promotion and implementation of innovative solutions that would be instrumental for the creation of smarter and sustainable communities in the country.
Cauayan City is the first Smart and Sustainable community in the country established by then DOST Region 2 Director, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, who is now the agency’s undersecretary for regional operations.
This initiative is one of the focused endeavors of DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr. It is a collaboration between the city of Cauayan, the DOST and Isabela State University with the hope of advancing science technology and innovation (STI) in other cities and municipalities around the Philippines.
The theme for the 3-day event or up to March 25 was “Building Smarter and Sustainable Cities and Communities in the Philippines.”
During the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by DOST, Dept. of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Dept. of Information, Communications and Technology (DICT) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), for the development of smart and sustainable communities.
The MOU is one if the keys to achieving long-term solutions to a comprehensive and synergistic research-driven framework and roadmap. This will spur dynamic collaboration among government institutions, academe, the commercial sector, civil society and other instrumentalities for smart and sustainable communities.
The activity is one of the effective platforms of the agency to promote a holistic and collaborative regional and national development that will further recognize the efforts and commitments of communities in their transformation to becoming smart and sustainable communities based on the roadmap and defined milestone indicators.
On top of speakers Solidum and Mabborang, others who delivered their speeches on the first day were Cauayan City Mayor Caesar S. Dy Jr., Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland, Bernard Faustino M. Dy; Dr. Enrico C. Paringit of DOST-PCIEERD; Dominic Wilhelm, executive director, United Cities in South Africa. Delivering her speech virtually was Sen. Pia S. Cayetano who spoke on legislation on smart and sustainable communities.
Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino, president of the Isabela State University introduced Dr, Solidum Jr.